Pit Bull Attacks 81-Year-Old Central Fla. Man

[The Straight Story]

Pit Bull Attacks 81-Year-Old Central Fla. Man

POSTED: 1:12 pm EDT July 28, 2006
UPDATED: 2:16 pm EDT July 28, 2006

An 81-year-old man was hospitalized Friday after he was attacked by a pit bull dog in his neighborhood, according to Local 6 News.

Sheriff's deputies in Osceola County, Fla., responded to a dog bite at 1055 West Tropicana Court in Kissimmee, Fla.

When officers arrived, they found the victim lying on the ground with serious injuries to his legs, a news release said.

A neighbor said he attempted to get one of the dogs off the victim by shooting at the animal.

http://www.local6.com/news/9592625/detail.html

Now the question is: Is the type of dog relevant to the story. I would say it is myself because generic 'dog' is too broad (as would be just saying an animal attacked).

I would venture a guess though that in many dog bites man stories the headlines and maybe even the article does not mention the breed (especially if it is a mutt).

[Warpy]

1. Some breeds are harder on us than others

Some, like Rottweilers, are fiercly loyal to their "pack" and are very slow to trust any outsiders. Some like pit bulls, can simply be unpredictable. Both these breeds can inflict considerable damage and should be confined.

Poodles are statistically most likely to bite, though. They generally don't cause as much serious injury which is why their bites aren't news.

[The Straight Story]

3. damn poodles

[TheCentepedeShoes]

19. Hey, I have a standard poodle

Very smart, protective dogs. I call him my Jehovah's Witness Early Warning System, aka Sir Barksalot. He's that way, however, only when there's some barrier between him and someone else. Otherwise, it's petmepetmepetmewhere'smycookie.

[juajen]

6. Another elderly woman killed by Pit Bull

I read this yesterday, don't remember where. I think it was Yahoo news. This woman was gardening in her own yard and the penned pit bull in the neighbor's yard, jumped the fence and killed her.

Honest folks, dangerous dogs must be outlawed, and that includes any breed where complaints have been registered by more than one complainant. I know all the arguments and I know a lot of people try to make their dogs mean on purpose, but some breeds are inherently dangerous and anyone who has one of these dogs needs to show proof of liability insurance on their animal. This should help with the proliferation of pit bulls, rottweilers, etc. I have met some very sweet dogs of both of these breeds. However, none of the owners had any kind of liability insurance.

[pitohui]

9. they cancel your homeowner's insurance if you have a dangerous dog

most people's liability insurance (other than for auto) is packaged with their homeowner's insurance

if you own one of these dangerous breeds, you can lose your coverage for your home!

[LeftyMom]

13. What insurance company covers people with large dogs?

Please tell me, I could send a lot of business thier way.

[LeftyMom]

2. A lot of these "pit bulls" turn out to be something else anyhow

I used to have a boxer and people'd mistake her for a pit bull all the time, even though boxers are pretty easy to identify.

[blonndee]

5. Hey, I just typed a similar thought as you posted. I posted

a link to this online test about IDing pits.

Boxers ALWAYS get mistaken for pits. I never understood why that happens, either.

[Critters2]

24. I've seen that test

Picked out the pit on the first try. Why do people think it's difficult?

[blonndee]

4. Without debating the whole "pit bull thing," one problem with

some of these stories is that it's very difficult to identify a "pit bull" unless you really know the breed. I thought I could do it easily until faced with 25 pictures of dogs on this online test, and asked to identify which one was the pit. It took me about 8 guesses before I finally lucked out and chose the right one.

http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html

I've seen this happen a lot here in OK. Someone screams "pit bull" and the media reports it just like that, and too often it turns out not to be at all. Of course corrections are never made.

[The Straight Story]

7. It wasn't too hard to find for me because they said 'terrier'

So I picked the one that was small and reminded me of my jack russell :)



pit bull terrier:

[blonndee]

16. Cute puppy! nt

[AllNamesHaveBeenUsed]

18. Why would they include JRTs in the lineup?

Who could possibly mistake a JRT for a pit bull?

[Critters2]

25. If corrections are never published

how do you know a mistake has been made?

[blonndee]

32. Well, I've seen it happen by looking at footage of dogs when

film is available on TV; the rest of the mistakes I've heard about have been caught by readers/viewers, which I've read about online. I've also heard shelter workers and rescuers express the same thing.

[Critters2]

34. So, just hearsay?

[blonndee]

35. Yes, indeed, and firsthand experience.

Besides, like I said, I'm not debating the whole pit bull thing, just sharing my POV on IDing pits. But since I recall (again, from firsthand experience) that every mention of pits apparently sends you into hysterics (and worse), I have no interest in continuing this conversation with you. So try your snark on someone else, kay? I have better things to do.

And...THERE's that Ignore button.

--Click--

[Critters2]

37. So, disagreeing with you =hysterics, huh?

Typical

[Truthiness Inspector]

36. If corrections/contradicting info is published

right here on DU, how would you know since you put a bunch of us who love/have Pitbulls on ignore?

Why listen to a bunch of us who have first-hand experience that contradicts your view? :eyes:

[blonndee]

38. Hey, TI, something you and I have in common

finally! :hi: I've been down this particular road in another forum and concluded it was a waste of time. But be my guest, if you're up for it!

[Truthiness Inspector]

39. LOL

Hi Blonndee, nice to see you on an agreeable topic. It takes all kinds, that is for sure, but it's good we are all here to hash these things out. :)

[Clarkie1]

8. Why are people still allowed to own these killers?

There have been several incidents in S.F. of young children killed by this breed. They are completely unpredictable, no matter how well trained.

[pitohui]

10. hell in s.f. a strong athletic middle-aged coach lady was killed by one

i remember the case from a couple years back, i believe the owners were tried for manslaughter, as they SHOULD have been, because the dogs had been allowed to terrorize the woman on previous occasions

don't know if they were convicted tho -- maybe someone has a better recollection of the details

but i remember it being scary because the woman killed was fit and athletic and actually a coach or P.E. teacher of some kind

[mitchtv]

14. However , not by a Pit Bull

a very large breed called Brisa Canaria(Canary Is. Mastiff) or something like that. well over 100 lbs.Yes at least one was convicted, later freed early. Because of these people Gay partners can now sue for wrongfull death in Calif.

[pitohui]

26. ah thanks for the correction

i don't know the difference between pit bulls, boxers, and mastiffs -- to me i'm afraid they're all in that category of "scary!" -- which i guess proves the point made upthread about how often people confuse these breeds

[blonndee]

17. Those were Presa Canarios. nt

[BreweryYardRat]

20. And they look like this, for reference.

[pitohui]

27. jeebus that is a frightening dog EOM

,

[idgiehkt]

28. Two of these killed Diane Whipple

while their owner watched. I don't understand outlawing automatic weapons and having such severe restrictions on owning exotic pets like lions, wolf dogs, etc, but allowing dogs like presas to be classed with other dogs.

[theHandpuppet]

22. And people want them for all the wrong reasons

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/02/07/MNW32356.DTL

Presa Demand Grows for All Wrong Reasons
Dogs wanted for killing, fighting
Jim Herron Zamora, Mark Martin, Chronicle Staff Writers
Wednesday, February 7, 2001

(02-07) 04:00 PDT San Francisco -- The media frenzy surrounding the fatal mauling of a San Francisco woman by a Presa Canario dog could have been bad news for the future of the obscure canine breed.

But breeders say the notoriety has caused just the opposite: more calls from people looking for killer canines.

"They want a pit bull on steroids," said Mac Harris, a New York breeder. "And these dogs can be just that if they're raised the wrong way."

After the killing of Diane Whipple in her Pacific Heights apartment building made national headlines, Presa Canario breeders say, calls and e- mails from prospective buyers have tripled or quadrupled....

MORE

[LWolf]

15. I admit that my experience is very small.

2 pits and 1 pit mix; not much of a population base. The 2 pits belong to a friend, the pit mix was adopted from the pound by my son as a kid. None of these dogs ever so much as growled or snarled, let alone put a tooth on anything. Our pit mix was sweet, eager to please, happy, and never threatened our cats, the rodents, the other dogs, or any people. Ever. She remained the same loving, loyal, sweet-natured dog to the day of her death. As have the friend's 2 pure pits.

I can't say I understand why some are unpredictable, and some are as predictable as the seasons for their entire lives.

[Truthiness Inspector]

23. I would wager

that your limited experience with Pits is in fact massive compared to the experience of Pit-haters. In fact, I am certain of it. Thanks for your great post.

[NC_Nurse]

11. The problem is the breed has a tendency to inflict more serious injuries

than others. Pit bulls and Rottweilers have a tendency to get a death grip on someone/thing and not let go, they inflict severe crush injuries which are much more serious than a more typical dog bite. Other breeds that bite like German Sheperds, Chows, Poodles, etc. are not nearly as likely to kill or maim their victims. ANY dog, no matter how well trained, can be put in a situation which can cause a defensive or aggressive reaction, especially if startled. Yes, it's usually the owner's fault for putting the dog in that situation or for not training adequately, but licensing and regulating all dog owners is not possible. I think the more dangerous breeds need to be restricted, period.

[Porcupine]

12. I was attacked once by a Pit Bull that was terrorizing my neighbors

The dog had a history of attacking people, inflicting several serious bites and then running home. The owner would then swear that his dog had been home the whole time. The jerk who owned the thing would let it get out at night and it would rush people it encountered.

I was lucky that I was wearing a heavy jacket and had my dog with my. The dog repeatedly attacked my and my Queensland would deflect it. An elderly neighbor who was out for his regular walk ended up with 36 stiches on his arm.

The dog that attacked me was a pit bull/rottweiler mix but it doesn't matter to me. I think that the breed should be eliminated along with all mixes. It's an artifact of human breeding with a history of random violent attacks.

Sterilize them.

[Truthiness Inspector]

21. I guess Huskies should all be killed too

http://www.canada.com/globaltv/national/story.html?id=9a2d20fb-c6a6-42bb-ab00-96cee49bc191

Hell, let's just kill ALL DOGS. And cats too, since they can scratch out eyes. In fact, let's kill ALL ANIMALS. Jesus.

[idgiehkt]

29. How 'bout lets keep our rhetoric within reason?

Because hysterical pit bull lovers are doing far more harm to this breed by freaking out about stuff like this instead of having empathy for public concern and making concessions BEFORE it comes to breed bans and mandatory euthanasia.

[Critters2]

30. Exactly

It doesn't help the breed that the public sees their advocates showing no empathy for attack victims.

[Truthiness Inspector]

33. That is a false statement

from what I've seen/participated in, but I've been put on "ignore" so she won't have to answer for that. Maybe someone not on ignore can ask her to cite examples of Pit-supporters showing "no empathy for attack victims."

[idgiehkt]

40. it at least need to be the first thing expressed.

instead of the kneejerk anti-BSL speech that coming flying out most of the time. Pit bull advocates need serious help with strategy, or they are shooting themselves, and the breed, in the foot.

[Truthiness Inspector]

41. Do you recommend the same

for supporters of all species who have killed humans?

I think Pit-haters need to spend time with Pits so they know what the hell they are talking about.

[idgiehkt]

44. reductio ad absurdum

By this kind of argument you are contributing to the demise of your own beloved breed. How sad for these beautiful dogs that their advocates are so tragically short-sighted.

I'm a former pit-mix owner, btw.

[Truthiness Inspector]

46. I think not

None of my dogs have ever attacked a soul; they are good dogs (who let my fat cat rule the house) and I am a responsible owner. What happened with your (one) experience with a Pit-mix? It sounds like it wasn't good, and if it wasn't, could you provide the background on the dog?

[Critters2]

43. Exactly

"I feel bad for the victim, but..." lets the public know where these people's priorities lie.

[Truthiness Inspector]

31. Breed bans and breed-based euthansia ARE hysteria

The very definition of it, and some here support that. I am simply emulating that hysteria to show the massive can of worms it opens.

[idgiehkt]

42. this is exactly the same as political strategy.

The public is reading these headlines. You have a sentence or two to respond. That's it. If it were me, mine would be "what can pit bull owners do to help ease the public's mind about our dogs" and then be willing to make those sacrifices, like mandatory spaying/neutering/ muzzles in public/extra high fences/ higher registration fees etc...pit bull defenders have a short window of time, meaning now, to make those decision before the public gets fed up and the breed is banned in one town after another with the stroke of a pen. It's up to you guys who really love your dogs to save their lives NOW. Ultimately the decision to ban them in an area is up to one or two people sometimes, and can be done licketly split. Pit bull defenders are not employing any strategy at all about this, which I find tragic for the dogs. The public is getting fed up, and they don't give a damn about cocker spaniel stastics, because cockers generally aren't mauling their grandmothers and killing their kids.

I'm going to take myself out of this discussion because I only have the above point to make, but if pit defenders don't take the initiative to show some responsiblity ahead of the game,then when the breed is banned or severly restricted, which it increasingly will be, I fear, they will have only themselves to blame.

[Truthiness Inspector]

45. Well

I would ask you to spend time with Pits who are happy family members, then look those dogs who have licked your face, invited you to pet their tummies, etc, in the eye and say, "You should all be dead." Feel free to extricate yourself from the discussion. I don't feel that compulsion since I have had Pits almost my entire life, so I actually know what I am talking about.

You are asking us to carry a false burden. "Just admit you are wrong, your dogs are wrong" mentality, and then maybe you'll have a chance. Horseshit, I say.